Needle selecting mechanism for knitting machines and the like



E. MILNER 1,880,267

NEEDLE SELECTING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 26. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 'l H Ill! J mum Oct. 4, 1932. E. MILNER NEEDLE SELECTING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES- AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 2a. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z9 ,a P L/ W it; M

Patented Get. 4', 1232 earner caries EEIIL MILNER, F GERT'EANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T9 CONTINENTAL MILLS, 1130., CF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATlOlf-T OF NEN YORK NEEDLE SELECTING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Application filed. August 26, 1927. Serial No. 215,546.

My present invention relates to knitting machines, particularly but not exclusively of the circular knitting machine type, and especially to the needle-selecting and needleactuating portions of such machines, and aims to devise devices which may serve as attachments of machines of the general character specified, by means of which devices a wide variety of patterns may be knitted by the suitable selection and actuation of the knitting needles of such macaines. Such needle-selecting and needle-actuating mechanism is characterized by its simpliclty in construction, the ease, convenience and economy with which such mechanisms may be fabricated and assembled without in the slightest degree altering the usual construc tion of the circular or like knitting machines to which such mechanisms may lie-applied or in which they may be embodied, and the wide variety of patterns which may be made the use of the mechanisms of the present invention. Other objects advantages the present invention will in part be pointed out in detail hereinafter and will in part be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates. i

In the accompanying specification I; shall describe, and in the annexed drawings show, an illustrative embodiment of the resent invention. It is, however, to be cl arly understood that my invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, herein shown and ocscribed forpurposes of illustration only.

Referring to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the aforesaid i lustrative embodiments of the present invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, showing toe complete mechanism attached and operatively connected to a knitting machine of the circular knitting machine type and showing the drive from the knitting machine itself; v

Fig. 2 is partial top plan, partial transverse sectional view, on enlarged scale, talren along line 22 of 3 of the drawings; V v r Fig. 3 is an edge view of the mechanism, also on an enlarged scale;

Fig. t is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the needle selector guides;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View of the needleselecting device taken along line 55 of Fig. l of the drawings;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the variable needle-selecting mechanism taken along line 66 of Fig. l of the drawings;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detailed top plan view of a part of the variable needle-selecting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view of one type of needle picker used in the device illustrated in the drawings; and

Fig. 9 is a detailed perspective View of another type of needle picker used in said device.

Referring now to the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention, and

more particularly to the drawings illustrating the same, 10 indicates an internal gear which may constitute a portion of the knitting machine proper, here designated by reference character 11. The internal gear 10 constitutes driving means for the needle-selecting and v needle-actuating mechanism shortly to be described. However, it is to be clearly understood that such mechanism may be driven by any suitable meansand in any suitable manner, without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. -t may here further be stated that since the knitting machine,

whether of the circular knitting machine or other type, forms no part of the present invention, the same is not described nor isit shown here, being of the usual construction, as will be fully known to those skilled in the to which the present invention relates. I

indicates an intermediate gear which is in operative contact with the teeth of the iternal gear 10 at one side thereof and with theteeth of the gear l0 at the other side thereof. The intermediate gear. 20 is suitably mounted for rotation on a stub shaft or spindle 21, carried by the end 22 of a bracket 23, which is in turn adjustably supported on the arm 24 of a bracket 25. For this purpose, a slot 24 is provided in'the arm 24 through which passes the adjustable locking means 26,

which is provided with a slot 27 through which passes a stub shaft or spindle 28, on which the gear 40 is suitably positioned by means of the collars or spacing sleeves 28? and 28". The parts thus far described constitute the driving mechanism for the needleselecting and needle-actuating mechanlsm shortly to be described, such drivlng mechanism being readily adjustable, so that the device may operate smoothly, quietly and with the desired efliciency.

50 indicates a main pattern wheel. The main pattern wheel 50 is provided with a plurality of needle selecting and setting portions 51, in theform of extensions, somewhat in the nature of gear teeth, these portions 51 being of varying width and being provided with notches in different or varying numbers, the notches being indicated by reference character 51. It may here be stated that the main pattern wheel 50 is fixedly attached to the stub shaft 28, to which as above indicated is also fixedly attached the gear wheel 40. It may here also be stated that the main pattern wheel 50 is of relatively large radius, as compared with the radius of the auxiliary pattern Wheel shortly to be described, the main pattern wheel 50 being fixed or invariable, while the auxiliary pattern wheel is variable and may be set for a variety of different set-- tings, corresponding to as many different patterns or multiples thereof, depending on the ratio between the main or fixed pattern wheel and the auxiliary or variable pattern wheel 60.

As already stated, the main pattern wheel 50 is fixedly attached to the stub shaft 28 by any suitable means, generally indicated by reference character 50. It may here be stated, however, that the main or fixed pattern wheel 50 is preferably removable and replaceable, so that different main or invariable pattern wheels may be used, which pattern 'Wheels may be of various diameters, the

bracket 25 and its various parts'permitting the proper adjustment of the different portions of the needle-selecting and needle-actuating mechanism for different diameters of the main and auxiliary pattern wheels. It

- may here also be stated that the curvature of the main or fixed pattern wheel 50 may be such that it could not conveniently be used for directly actuating the knitting needles themselves, since the curvature of the main pattern wheel 50 may be such as would cause it to involve more than one needle at a time, if brought into direct contact therewith, which might be contrary to the intended manner of using the device. However, the curvature of the auxiliary or variable pattern wheel is such that it. may be used to select particular knitting needles of the knit ting machine without involving adjacent needles. In other words, the main pattern wheel 50 does not, itself, directly select and actuate the knitting needles proper of the knitting machine, doing so only through the mediation of the auxiliary or variable pattern wheel, as will be described in considerable detail later in this specification.

60 indicates generally the auxiliary or variable pattern wheel. The same is suitably mountedon a fixed or non-rotatable stud or spindle carried by a third arm 29 of the bracket 25, said stud or spindle being designated by reference character 30. The arm 29 is provided with the slot 29 in which is positioned the stud or supporting member 29" for the supporting plate or bracket 31, all as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The auxiliary or variable pattern wheel 60, the radius of which is substantially less than the radius of the main or fixed pattern wheel 50, and the curvature of which is such as to enable it, when properly set, to select single knitting needles without involving adjacent needles, preferably comprises the fixed housing 61, comprisingthe sleeve portion 62, a central stepped portion 63 having the inner depending flange portion 64,

there being provided also the outer member 65 provided with the outer depending flange portion 66, all as more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The inner and outer flange portions 64 and 66, respectively, provide between them the outer raceway 67, while the inner flange portion 64 provides an inner raceway 68, for a purpose subsequently described in considerable detail.

In order to provide for the direct selection and actuation of the knitting needles, I provide rotatable needle-selecting and needleactuating mechanism, generally designated by reference character 70 and comprising a hollow shaft 71, which may carry at its lower end the gear wheel 72 for actuation of the mechanism 60 by any suitable portion of the mechanism of the knitting machine proper at the correct rate of speed relative to the main or fixed pattern wheel 50 and needle cylinder.

Fixedly carried by the hollow shaft 71, so as to rotate therewith, are the lower needle selector disk 73 and the upper needle selector disk 74, the upper end 71 of the hollow shaft 71 being threaded and being provided with the nut 71 so as to properly position the disks 73 and 74 fixedly about the hollow shaft 71. The disks 73 and 74 are preferably provided with radial slots 73 and 74 respectively, the slots 73 of the lower disk 73 being preferably staggered with respect to the slots 74 of the upper disk 74. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide for the necessary number of needle selectors without unduly weakening the mechanical structure of the variable needle selecting and actuating mechanism 60, as would be the case if both disks were slotted to the amount that would be necessary to accommodate an equal number of needle selectors. The needle selector disks 73 and 74 are provided also with the peripheral serrations or slots 7 3 or 74'', respectively, the serrations or slots 7 3' and 74: being staggered with respect to each other but being in register or alignment with the grooves 74 and 7 3 of the needle selector disks 7 4: and 73, respectively.

80 indicates a form of upper needle selector having the radial shank 81, the lower guiding projection 82 and the needle-engaging abutment 83, all as more clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The radial shank 81is intended to be positioned in the corresponding radial slot 74 on the lower face of the upper disk 7e and the guiding projection 82 in the slot or serration 73", thus permitting the radial movement of the upper series of needle selectors 80 in their respective radial slots 74'.

The lower needle selector 90 is provided with a radial shank 91, the guiding portion 92 and the needle engaging abutment 93. The radial shank 91 of the lower needle selector 90 is adapted to be positioned in the corresponding radial slot 7 3 on the upper face of the lower disk 78, with the guide portion 92 adapted to reciprocate in the indented marginal portion 7a of the upper disk 7%. It may here be stated that while the slots 7 3' and 74 in the opposed faces of the disks 7 3 and 74 are staggered with respect to each other, the indented portions 7 3 and 7a of the two disks are likewise staggered with re spect to each other but register with the slots 7a and 73, respectively, as already indicated, so that a needle selector having its radial shank in the groove in one of the disks will have its guiding portion in the indented portion ofthe other disk. This provides a very compact and safe constructionwhich gives to'the device the IIGCGSSQTXIDBCllEtIllCfll strength and accuracy in operation.

It may here be stated that the ratio between the main and auxiliary needle wheels may be either commensurate or incommensu-i rate so as to give a limited or a very wide variety of patterns, as desired. The variety of the pattern will depend on the number of revolutions which the main and auxiliary needle-selecting and needle-actuating pattern wheels must make in order to bring the device back to its starting point, as determined by the initial position and relation of the main and auxiliary pattern wheels.

In order to provide for the proper selection and actuation of the needle selectors 80 and 90 by means of the main pattern wheel 50, the outer flange portion 66 is cut away, as indicated by reference character 66, and the inner flange portion 64% is cut away, as

indicated by reference character 64', to permit the engagement of the main pattern wheel 50 with the desired needle selectors 80. and 90. For this purpose, the operative outer portions of the needle selectors 80 and 90 are provided withthe tooth portions 84 and 94, respectively, the same being so shaped as to permit their accurate engagement and actuation by the prongs 51 of the main pattern wheel 50. There is thus provided the lateral cut away portion 69 by which the needle selectors are engaged and actuated by the mainv pattern wheel 50. There is, at this cut away portion 69 provided a guard or apron 69 secured to the housing 60 which permits the main pattern wheel 50 to engage the desired needle selectors while preventing said needle selectors from being displaced or removed from the cooperating disks which guide the same in their movements and serve to hold the same inplace.

At 69 I have indicated a second lateral cut away portion provided by cutting away a portion 66 of the outer flange 66, the inner flange not being cut away at this portion. At this point there is provided a guard leaf secured to the housing by suitable fastening means 75'. The arrangement is such as to permit the selection and actuation of the knitting needles provided by the selected needle selectors which are in operative position in the outer raceway 67 at the cut away portion 69", but which are prevented from being displaced by the guard 7 5.

This arrangement is more fully illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings where I have also illustrated means, generally designated by reference character 76, for bringing the needle engaging abutments 83 and 93 of the two series of needle selectors and out of the inner (inoperative) raceway 68, into assembled position, where they may once. more be selectively acted upon by the main pattern wheel 50. This means 76 preferably comprises the auxiliary septum 77 and the inner guide or apron 78, the outer end 79 of the auxiliary septum 77 being so positioned as to guide the needleengaging abutments and the needle selectors in the inner raceway gginto assembled position with the needle selectors in the outer'racewav, once more to permit the same to be selectively acted upon by the main pattern wheel 50.

This completes the description of the aforesaid ilhistrative embodiment of the present.

invention. The construction of said embodi-' ment will, it is believed, be clear from the toregoim description. Likewise the manner of assembling said embodiment will be clear from the foregoing description. The manner of the operation of said device and the manner of using the same will similarly be clear from the foregoing description but may be briefly summarized as follows:

Assuming now that a particular selected pattern wheel has been fixedly attached to the stub shaft or spindle 28, and that the machine has been set in operation, and assumingalso that all of the needle-engaging abutments 83 and 93 of the respective needle selectors SO and 90 are in the outer raceway 67, and assuming that the machine is now set in operation, the wheel 50 provided with the prongs 51 defining between them the indentations 51 will selectively act upon certain of the needle selectors 80 and 90 of the variable or auxiliary pattern wheel 60, which is being continually rotated by means of the gear wheel 72 and associated mechanism.

The needle selectors, whose portions 84: and 94, respectively, are thus engaged by the teeth or equivalent portions of the main pattern wheel, will be radially moved so that their needle engaging abutments will be in the inner raceway 68, which will thus leave the corresponding needle selectors in inoperative position where they will not actuate the corresponding knitting needles at the cut away portion 69 of the variable pattern x wheel 60. It may here be stated that the leaf spring 75, while being yielding and thus permitting the suitable actuation of the corresponding knitting needles by the needle selectors whose needle-engaging abutments are in the outer raceway 67, at the same time suitably positions and guards corresponding needle selectors 80 and 90.

From the cutaway portion 69 the needle selectors will be divided into two groups, an

" operative group whose needle-engaging abutments will be in the outer raceway 67, and an inoperative group whose needle-engaging abutmentswill be in the inner raceway 68. From the cut away portion 69", after the 86-) lected needle selectors have performed their function of actuating certain of the knitting needles, the inner group of needle selectors, with their needle-engaging abutments still within the inner raceway 68, will come into contact with the mechanism 76, includin the auxiliary septum 77, by means of w ich, by the engagement of said septum with the needle-engaging abutments 88 and 98 of the upper and lower needle selectors 80 and 90, respectively, the needle selectors will be assembled with all of such abutments in the outer raceway 67 for again being selectively acted upon by the main pattern wheel 30.

It will be noted that the mechanism is very simple in construction, and may be readily,

conveniently and economically fabricated and assembled. It will be noted further that by the suitable selection of the main pattern wheel 50 which is replaceable and may be used in different forms and of difierent diameters,

a very wide variety of patterns may readily be knitted into the fabric. Main pattern wheels of any desired diameter, however, may be employed, since the auxiliary pattern wheel 1 is the one that directly engages, through its needle selectors, the knitting needles desired to be acted upon, the main pattern wheel only indirectly and through the mediation of said variable pattern wheel engaging such knitting needles.

Where the ratio of the radii of the main pattern wheel 50 and the auxiliary pattern wheel is incommensurate, an ever-varying variety of patterns, within certain practical limits, may be knit into the fabric. On the other hand, where such ratio is commensurate, a pattern of varying complexity may be made, the complexity of the pattern and its variety depending upon the number of revolutions which the machine must make to bring the two pattern wheels back to the same relative position which they occupied at the commencement of the cycle, an increased number of revolutions required for this purpose indicating an increased complexity of pattern, and a decreased number of revolutions for this purpose indicating a decreased complexity of pattern. It may be noted further that the mechanism of the present invention may be used as an attachment for existing knitting machines, with little or no modification of their construction, although such mechanism may be embodied in knitting machines initially and made a permanent part thereof.

Other advantages and superiorities of the crevices of the present invention in construction, operation and use will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Variable needle selecting means, comprising supporting means provided with a plurality of radially disposed races, and needle selectors positioned in certain of-said races and radially movable therein, in combination with a main invariable pattern wheel having selecting and setting portions in the form of notched extensions adapted to selectively operate upon certain of said needle selectors.

2. Variable needle selecting means, comprising supporting means provided with a plurality of radially disposed races, and needle selectors positioned in certain of said iraces and radially movable therein, said needle selectors being provided adjacent the outer ends thereof with needle contacting abutments, in combination with a main invariable pattern wheel having selecting and setting portions in the form of notched extensions adapted to selectively operate upon certain of said needle selectors.

3. Variable needle selecting means, comprising s'upportin g means embodying a fixedly positioned surrounding housing having a plurality of spaced depending flange portions providing inner and outer raceways and rotatable means associated with said housing and provided with a plurality of radially disposed races, and needle selectors positioned in certain of said races and radially movable therein, said housing having a laterally cut away portion permitting the selective engagement of certain of said needle selectors and having a second laterally cut away portion permitting the selected needle selectors to engage corresponding knitting needles, in combination with a main invariable pattern wheel adapted to extend into said first-mentioned laterally cut-away portion to selectively engage certain of said needle selectors.

4. Variable needle selecting means, comprising supporting means embodying a fixedly positioned surrounding housing having a plurality of spaced depending flange portions providing inner and outer raceways and rotatable means associated with said housing and provided with a plurality of radially disposed races, and needle selectors positioned in certain of said races and radially movable therein, said needle selectors being provided adjacent the outer ends thereof with needleengaging abutments, said housing having a laterally cut away portion permitting the selective engagement of certain of said needle selectors and having a second laterally cut away portion permitting the selected needle selectors to engage corresponding knitting needles, in combination with a main invariable pattern wheel adapted to extend into said first-mentioned laterally cut-away portion to selectively engage certain of said needle selectors.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 22nd day of August, 1927.

EMIL MILNER. 

